Crape-myrtle named Purple Queen

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of crape-myrtle, named `Purple Queen`, which is characterized by its strong reddish purple blooms and its dwarf habit. The new variety is hardy, well-branched and produces a heavy quantity of blooms.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of crape-myrtle, the variety being primarily characterized by strong reddish purple blooms.

The variety is further characterized by:

From spreading to flat-spreading performance having a (hill spread)/(height) ratio of about 1.6, flat globe form, dwarf habit (about 40 cm height), heavy branching habit and an extremely numerous amount of blooms.

The new crape-myrtle variety originated in 1985 as a seedling resulting from the crossing of a pair of crape-myrtle plants. The seed parent was `Summer And Summer`, Lagerstroemia indica L., which was bred at a research farm in Uchino-cho, Niigata-shi, Niigata-ken, Japan, and the pollen parent was `Issai-Sarusuberi` Lagerstroemia indica L. This crossing was done at the same research farm as described above in 1984 with the object of producing plants having flowers of different colors from the seed parent, `Summer And Summer.` The seed parent, `Summer And Summer` has been registered under No. 1733 on Aug. 18, 1988, under the Japanese Seed and Seedlings Law. The pollen parent, `Issai-Sarusuberi` is a well-known and popular crape-myrtle plant and is under no protection, such as a patent or plant variety protection certificate. In 1986, the asexual reproduction of this selected seedling was done by me and under my direction at the same research farm as described above by green shoot cutting. Then, observations were made for 2-4 years of grown plants during 1987-1989. The continuous asexual propagation has demonstrated that the novel characteristics would hold true from generation to generation, appear to be firmly fixed, and are transmitted without change through succeeding propagations.

The new crape-myrtle variety differs from its seed parent and pollen parent in the following ways.

    ______________________________________                                                           Seed Parent                                                           New Variety                                                                             Summer And Pollen Parent                                              Purple Queen                                                                            Summer     Issai-Sarusuberi                                  ______________________________________                                         Tree-Performance                                                                          spreading to                                                                              flat-spreading                                                                            upright                                                  flat-spreading                                                      (hill spread)/                                                                             1.6        3.0        0.43                                         (tree height)                                                                  ratio                                                                          Tree form  flat globe disc       obovoid                                       Tree height (cm)                                                                          dwarf (36.6)                                                                              dwarf (20.0)                                                                              shrub (130.0)                                 Branching Habit                                                                           heavy      medium     sparse                                        (number of 13.0        5.8       4.4                                           branches on a                                                                  main trunk)                                                                    Number of inflo-                                                                          numerous   medium     little                                        rescences per                                                                             11.0        5.0       3.5                                           one cluster                                                                    Number of  numerous   medium     medium                                        flowers per                                                                               45.0       32.0       26.0                                          one inflorescence                                                              Petal color                                                                               strong red-                                                                               strong     vivid red                                                dish purple                                                                               purplish pink                                                                             purple JHS                                               JHS Color  JHS Color  Color Chart                                              Chart 8911 or                                                                             Chart 9205 or                                                                             9507 or RHS                                              RHS Colour RHS Colour Colour Chart                                             Chart 77B  Chart 68A, 71B                                                                 68B, 73A                                                 ______________________________________                                    

The new crape-myrtle variety may be reproduced with ease by stem cuttings. Just after root taking, young shoots come out and spread as growth proceeds. The variety becomes to show from spreading to flat-spreading in tree performance and flat globe in tree form, before appearance of flower buds. The tree height of an adult tree is about 40 cm and the hill spread is about 1.6 times the tree height.

The variety shows extremely heavy branching habit and bears extremely numerous flowers and buds. The blooming period of the variety is long, from July to October in Niigata-shi, Niigata-ken, Japan, and in similar climate elsewhere. The variety also shows a good cold hardiness and can overwinter well without being supported with a pole even in a snowy area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings show typical specimens of the new variety in color as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this character. In each instance, the photographs were taken at the same research farm referred to previously in August, 1989.

FIG. 1 is a complete view of the new variety together with a scale wherein the dwarf habit of the new variety is apparent.

FIG. 2 is a closer view of a blooming peduncle showing the characteristics of the flower and the bud. The slight color variation present in FIG. 2 is due to the effect of sprinkled water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the characteristics of the new variety as observed at the same research farm described above. Color designations are made by referenc to J.H.S. Color Chart (Japan Horticultural Scale) or R.H.S. Colour Chart (Royal Horticultural Society) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

Plant:

Tree performance.--From spreading to flat-spreading with a (hill spread)/(tree height) ratio of about 1.6.

Tree form.--Flat globe.

Tree height.--Dwarf, about 35 to 40 cm in adult trees.

Stem:

Type of trunk.--Bush.

Trunk color.--Purplish brown.

Young bud.--Reddish brown in color.

Branches.--Color: Reddish brown. Thickness: 4.0 mm (ave. of 50 shoots) Appearance of branch edge: Obvious. Branching habit: Heavy, about 13.0 branches in average on a main trunk. Internode length: Short, about 1 to 2 cm. Average leaf length: About 5.7 cm. Average leaf width: About 2.8 cm.

Foliage:

Leaflets (lamina).--Broad lanceolate-shaped.

Top of leaflets.--acute-shaped (82.3°).

Base of leaflets.--acute-shaped.

Margin.--Entire.

Wave of leaflets.--None.

Thickness of leaflets.--0.4 mm (ave. of 50 leaflets)

Color of immature leaflets.--Vivid yellow green (J.H.S. Color Chart 3506) or (R.H.S. Colour Chart 144B).

Color of mature leaflets.--Upper side is dark green (J.H.S. Color Chart 3716) or (R.H.S. Colour Chart 137A, 137B, 147A) under side is dull yellow green (J.H.S. Color Chart 3514) or (R.H.S. Colour Chart 146B, 147B, 148B).

Mottling.--None.

Color change.--Purplish red.

Luster.--Weakly-glossy finish.

Hair.--None on both the upper surface and the under surface.

Petiole.--Green in color. Petiole length: 1.0 to 1.1 mm.

Flower:

Pedicel.--4.5 to 5.5 mm.

Appearance of calyx tube edge.--Developed.

Bud.--Trapezoidal.

Cluster.--Conic-shaped, upward, broad and long.

Inflorescence.--Numerous, 11.0 on average per one cluster.

Semiinflorescence.--3 to 7 per the lowest inflorescence.

Number of flowers.45.0 on average per one inflorescence.

Shape or form.--Single, six petals.

Frangrance.--Present, slight.

Petals:

Color.--Overall strong reddish purple (J.H.S. Color Chart 8911) or (R.H.S. Colour Chart 77B) with no variation and slight fading in tone.

Shape.--Orbiculate with strong wave.

Petal base.--Strong reddish purple (J.H.S. Color Chart 8911) or (R.H.S. Colour Chart 77B) in color, and the length of the claw is 8 to 9 mm.

Reproductive organs:

Style.--Pale purple.

Pistil.--One.

Filaments.--Pale purple.

Anthers.--Yellow.

Stamens.--30 to 35 arranged around the pistil.

Fruit:

Shape.--Ellipsoid, 8.3 mm in width (ave. of 50 fruits) and medium in width, being rotundate on the base and top.

Color.--Green in immaturity, and changes to dark purple in maturity.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf, 35 to 40 cm height.

First foliage appears.--April.

Blooming term.--July to October.

Days for bearing flowers.--About 100.

Defoliation.--November.

Cold hardiness.--High.

Heat tolerance.--High.

Disease resistance.--High.

Pest resistance.--High.

Species designation: `Purple Queen` is designated as Lagerstroemia indica L. hybrid.

The present new variety can survive at a temperature as low as -15° C. and is resistant to Cercospora lythracearum Heald et Wolf, generally known as leaf blight.

The following additional descriptive botanical information is also provided:

Bloom diameter: 4.4 to 5.2 cm.

Petal size (width): 1.5 to 1.8 cm.

Persistence of individual blooms: One day from blooming. On the second day after blooming, the flower color begins to fade gradually.

Fertile seeds: Are observed.

(i) Seed color.--Dark-grayish brown (J.H.S. Color Chart 1619) or (R.H.S. Colour Chart 200C).

(ii) Samara.--Seed winged at the top.

(iii) Seed size.--Length: 6.2 mm. (avg. of 50 seeds). Width: 2.9 mm. (avg. of 50 seeds).

(iv) Number of seeds per fruit.--21 (avg. of 50 fruits).

Tree width: 58.5 cm. (avg. value of 50 plants).

As will be apparent to those killed in horticultural science, the new variety as herein described may vary in slight detail due to climate, soil and cultural conditions under which the variety may be grown and the stage of growth. 

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:
 1. The new and distinct variety of crape-myrtle plant, substantially as herein described and illustrated. 